The Los Angeles Lakers have been nothing short of top tier entertainment for the entirety of the 2022-23 NBA season. From the arrival of new coach Darvin Ham, to the new arrivals of Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley, and their eventual quick exit, the arrival of D’Angelo Russell for his second stint as a Laker, the breakout season of young stud Austin Reaves, the constant fight through adversity because of the injuries that Anthony Davis and Lebron James have sustained throughout the year, Lebron James breaking the NBA all-time scoring record, and a lot of losing.
The Lakers currently sit 8th in the western conference at a record of 38-38. They are 1.5 games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks who sit outside the play-in at the 11th seed, and sit 1.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors who are in 6th place. The Lakers have caught fire at the right time, winning 4 out of their last 5 games.
With just 6 games left in the regular season, the Lakers finally have a fully healthy roster, and a starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Lebron James, Jarrad Vanderbilt, and Anthony Davis. The Lakers face the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night, meaning a win would put them in 7th place. Their last five games include two meetings with the Utah Jazz, and one meeting with the Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, and Phoenix Suns. The Lakers are expected to win at least 3 or 4 of these games, which would likely secure their play-in spot.
It would be foolish to count out a team led by a healthy LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell in any playoff series. If the Lakers succeed in the play-in, they will either face the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, or Sacramento Kings in the first round of playoffs. Yes, beating any of these teams in a best out of 7 series is a big task, but a Lebron James led team can never be overlooked in the playoffs.
For Lakers fans, calling this season a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement, but with a healthy roster, and the way they have started to play basketball, the potential for this team to make a deep playoff run is real, and should not be disregarded.
Do you think the Lakers can win the 2023 NBA championship?
